“We documented in this case approximately ten fraudulent marriages,” Marinari said after the court proceeding, “in addition to the one arranged during the course of the undercover operation.”

Marinari says the cooperating witness paid $8,000 and, on the way to the courthouse, was told by the defendant the woman she had chosen for him wasn’t a good choice but she had obtained him a new spouse — a better fit.

Hlukha coached the couples what to say during interviews to show the marriages were bona fide, and in at least one case a photo album had been fabricated to go with the immigration paperwork.